Great Violinists And Pianists eBook

He evinced the greatest distaste for solo playing
at public concerts, and, aside from charity performances,
only consented once to such an exhibition of his talents.
A singular concert was arranged to take place on the
fifth story of a house in Paris, the apartment being
occupied by a friend of Viotti, who was also a member
of the Government. “I will play,”
he said, on being urged, “but only on one condition,
and that is, that the audience shall come up here
to us—­we have long enough descended to
them; but times are changed, and now we may compel
them to rise to our level”; or something to
that effect. It took place in due course, and
was a very brilliant concert indeed. The only
ornament was a bust of Jean Jacques Rousseau.
A large number of distinguished artists, both instrumental
and vocal, were present, and a most aristocratic audience.
A good deal of Boccherini’s music was performed
that evening, and though many of the titled personages
had mounted to the fifth floor for the first time
in their lives, so complete was the success of the
concert that not one descended without regret, and
all were warm in their praise of the performances
of the distinguished violinist.

What the cause of Viotti’s sudden departure
from Paris in 1790 was, it is difficult to tell.
Perhaps he had offended the court by the independence
of his bearing; perhaps he had expressed his political
opinions too bluntly, for he was strongly democratic
in his views; perhaps he foresaw the terrible storm
which was gathering and was soon to break in a wrack
of ruin, chaos, and blood. Whatever the cause,
our violinist vanished from Paris with hardly a word
of farewell to his most intimate friends, and appeared
in London at Salomon’s concerts with the same
success which had signalized his Parisian debut.
Every one was delighted with the originality and power
of his playing, and the exquisite taste that modified
the robustness and passion which entered into the
substance of his musical conceptions.

Viotti was one of the artistic celebrities of London
for several years, but his eccentric and resolute
nature did not fail to involve him in several difficulties
with powerful personages. He became connected
with the management of the King’s Theatre, and
led the music for two years with signal ability.
But he suddenly received an order from the British
Government to leave England without delay. His
sharp tongue and outspoken language were never consistent
with courtly subserviency. We can fancy our musician
shrugging his shoulders with disdain on receiving
his order of banishment, for he was too much of a cosmopolite
to be disturbed by change of country. He took
up his residence at Schoenfeld, Holland, in a beautiful
and splendid villa, and produced there several of
his most celebrated compositions, as well as a series
of studies of the violin school.